Audio direction-distance detection

ABSTRACT

A laser device, finder of range(s), and an inclinometer are used to figure a sound producing device&#39;s position adjustment(s). Laser beam(s) of the laser device and the inclinometer characterize direction(s) of sound produced by the sound producing device. The laser beam(s) can be one or more colors or patterns each characterizing the general direction of sound produced by the sound producing device. A stadium can have many speaker housings each including a speaker, the laser, range finder and the inclinometer. Each speaker housing is mounted on, and remotely adjustable with respect to, an structural member as to the general direction of sound emitted from the speaker housing into the area for stadium seating. The inclinometer&#39;s output can be rendered by a monitor seen by an audio engineer who also uses the laser beam&#39;s direction to make adjustments to the position of the speaker housing relative to its structural member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/001,385, titled “Laser Inclinometer Audio Direction,” filed on Dec.11, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,077,896, and to US Patent ApplicationProvisional Application Serial No. 60/869,628, titled “Audio SystemInclinometer Apparatus, System and Method”, filed on Dec. 12, 2006, bothof which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of audio relatedstage and theatrical systems, and more specifically to the field ofdirecting sound from a speaker in an audio related stage or theatricalsystem.

BACKGROUND

A speaker in an audio system is generally non-directional in theprojection of sound produced by the speaker. To direct the sound towardsan area, a housing for the speaker is pointed in a direction of the areato which the sound is to be directed.

Tolerance for poor acoustics for an event in a performing arts venue isparticular low. As such, an audio engineer has a keen appreciation thatin a theatre, stadium, or auditorium (e.g.; a “concert venue”), thereare many areas to which sound is to be uniformly directed so as toachieve for each audience member an acoustically esthetic listeningexperience.

A particular problem for the audio engineer responsible for overallacoustics in a concert venue is whether sound is being directed to theproper audience locations, given the many speakers in the concert venue.It would be an advance in the art to concert venue with a capability todirect, at a numerically verifiable angle, the output of sound from eachspeaker within the concert venue towards a precise location therein.

SUMMARY

A laser is used with an inclinometer to make one or more adjustments toa position of a sound producing device. Both the laser beam of the laserand an output from the inclinometer characterize a general direction ofsound produced by the sound producing device. The inclinometer willpreferably be mounted and calibrated to ensure that its outputcharacterizes the general direction of sound produced by the soundproducing device—either by an interpretive output and/or by deductionfrom its output. The laser will be similarly mounted such that thedirection of its laser beam will characterize the general direction ofsound produced by the sound producing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary implementation of a audio system having a laserinclinometer in which an audio engineer can focus the direction of soundemitted from each of a plurality of speakers enclosed in respectivehousings, where the granularity of the focus is accomplished by theaudio engineer's movement of the enclosure in consultation with an audioand/or visual report from an inclinometer secured relative to theenclosure as to the direction of a laser emitted from a housing thatalso includes the inclinometer;

FIG. 2 depicts another exemplary implementation illustrated by a blocklevel diagram showing a plurality of speaker housings each of whichinclude a laser inclinometer and each being mounted with means for acomprehensive directional adjustability of the sound output by a speakerin the speaker housing, where an output from each inclinometercharacteristic of the direction of the sound output by the speaker inthe speaker housing as to the can be rendered at a plurality ofdifferent renderers of choice;

FIGS. 3-4 depict respective exemplary implementations of an audio systemfor a stadium intended to stage an event as a performance venue attendedby an audience, wherein each of a plurality of speaker housings has alaser inclinometer mounted stationary relative to the housing, thehousing is adjustable as to the direction of sound emitted there fromrelative to the performance venue, the laser inclinometer emits one ormore laser beams of one or more colors and/or patterns to indicate thedirection and/or other sound attribute of the emitted sound, theinclinometer provides an audio engineer a visual and/or audible reportas to one or more angles of the speaker housing relative to theperformance venue (e.g.; relative to the horizon and/or the vertical),and wherein one or more of the inclinometer reports are simultaneouslyand/or serially communicated to the audio engineer.

DESCRIPTION

In one implementation, a speaker housing is disclosed. The speakerhousing includes a speaker and a laser mounted in the speaker housing toemit a laser beam in the general direction of sound emitted from thespeaker housing. Also included is a means for detecting a position ofthe speaker housing, such as relative to one or more axes. Each suchaxis will be relative to a structural member on which the speakerhousing is mounted. For instance, three (3) such axes can be three (3)dimensions expressed by the vertical (height or ‘y’ axis), the horizon(length of the ‘x’ axis); and width (depth of the ‘z’ axis). Means fortaking a horizontal azimuth measurement, in one implementation, adds theability to measure the horizontal angle of a loudspeaker or array.

The function of detecting a position of the speaker housing can beaccomplished by an instrument for measuring angles of slope (or tilt),elevation or inclination with respect to gravity of a speaker, a speakerhousing, or a general direction of sound produced by a speaker or by aspeaker housing. Such a position detecting means can be, by way ofexample and not by way of limitation, a bubble level, a tilt meter, atilt indicator, a slope alert, a slope gauge, a gradient meter, agradiometer, a level gauge, a level meter, declinometer, a pitch & rollindicator, an inclinometer, or a combination of the foregoing.Preferably, the position detection function will be accomplished by useof an inclinometer. A device that accomplishes the function ofelectronically outputting information characterizing the detectedposition of the speaker housing can be used to direct the information toa renderer for rendering. In one implementation, an interface to theinclinometer receives an electrical signal characterizing the detectedposition and outputs the information characterizing the position to arenderer for rendering. Alternatively, the electronically outputtinginformation can also characterize a measure of the change of anglerelative to the direction of gravitational pull, which information canbe further used to deduce the general direction of sound.

The laser will preferably emit one or more visible light beams. Eachbeam can be a solid beam but can also be one or more colors eachindicating a direction of the sound emitted from the speaker housingrelative to one or more axes. Alternatively, the laser can be a devicethat produces one or more patterns of light each indicating a directionof the sound emitted from the speaker housing relative to one or moreaxes. The appearance and directions of the beam(s) of light provide anaudio engineer with an ability to seen the directions of the soundemitted from the speaker housing, thus being a type of filter set forthe laser aiming device. Stated otherwise, the lasers mounted on thespeaker housing each emit a laser beam defining the general area towhich sound emitted from the speaker housing is being directed into anarea.

In one implementation, the speaker housing can be in communication withan audible diagnostic reporter for emitting an audible report indicatinga direction of the sound emitted from the speaker housing relative toone or more axes, where the reporter receives information about thedetected position of the speaker housing. In such an implementation, thespeaker in the speaker housing can be used to produce the audiblereport.

In yet another implementation, an orientation report is rendered tocontaining information characterizing the general direction of soundrendered by a speaker that is adjustably mounted upon a structuralmember. The structural member also has mounted thereon a laser thatemits a laser beam in the general direction of sound rendered by thespeaker, and an apparatus that detects and outputs the informationcharacterizing the general direction of sound rendered by the speaker.By way of example, the apparatus can be an inclinometer, and theinformation output by the inclinometer can be used to by a renderer(e.g.; a printer, a video monitor, a television, a speaker, andcombinations thereof) to render the orientation report. An audioengineer can use the laser beam and the orientation report to make oneor more adjustments each of which will change the position of thespeaker relative to the structural member on which the speaking ismounted and thus the general direction of sound rendered by a speaker.Note also that each such adjustment can be made by a remotely operatedcontrol to adjust the position of the speaker relative to the structuralmember upon which the speaker is mounted. Each such adjustment be inone, two, or three dimensions (e.g.; up to three (3) different axes).Note also that the structural member can also support a mounting of anaudible diagnostic reporter for emitting an audible reportcharacterizing the general direction of sound rendered by the speaker.

In yet another implementation, the speaker housing can include, or be incommunication with, a range finding laser measuring device, by which adetermination can be made of the distance between the speaker(s) and atarget coverage area.

FIG. 1 shows a system level block diagram featuring a laser inclinometerhousing. Each laser inclinometer housing can be mounted stationaryrelative to a speaker housing. Preferably, the laser inclinometerhousing will be mounted to the speaker housing such that the laser inthe laser inclinometer housing will emit a laser beam in the directionof sound being emitted. By observing the direction of the laser beam, anaudio engineer will be able to see the direction of the sound beingemitted from the speaking housing. For instance, the direction of thelaser beam may give the audio engineer an understanding that the speakerhousing must be adjusted in its position in order to properly directsound to a particular seating area in a theater, stadium, or otherperformance venue. The inclinometer in the laser inclinometer housingwill emit a visual and/or audible report as to the angle of the speakerhousing relative to a vertical axis (or one or more other axes oforientation) to confirm to the audio engineer the adjustment of theposition of the speaker housing. As such, the laser beam and theinclinometer report will allow the audio engineer to make adjustments offine granularity to the direction of sound being emitted from eachspeaker housing.

One or more laser inclinometers are mounted in a speaker housing. Asmall hole can be formed in the housing of the laser inclinometer as anexit for a laser beam emitted from the laser. A mounting device of theimplementer's choice can be used to attach the housing for the laser andthe inclinometer to a speaker enclosure, box, or housing. The laserinclinometer is mounted with rigging to a pole, an upright or otherstructural member within the concert venue such that the speakerenclosure, box, or housing can be adjusted in position relative to thepole, upright or other structural member. Any such adjustment will alsoadjust the direction of the sound emitted from the speaker enclosure,box, or housing.

The inclinometer can be either analog or digital, and its report can beused by an audio engineer, either live or robotic, in order to aim eachspeaker enclosure, box, or housing to which the laser inclinometerhousing or apparatus is mounted. The outside dimensions of the laserinclinometer housing are determined by the type of speaker enclosure,box, or housing to which the laser inclinometer housing is to bemounted. The laser inclinometer housing should be mounted in stationaryposition relative to the speaker enclosure, box, or housing. The laserinclinometer housing will preferably have a laser of suitable power forthe dimensions of the concert or performance venue (e.g.; five (5)milliwatts). An analog and/or digital inclinometer will also be includedin the laser inclinometer housing, the output of which will be used tomeasure the angular position of the speaker enclosure, box, or housingrelative to the pole, upright or other structural member. Thismeasurement will be used to ensure a proper installation for eachspeaker enclosure, box, or housing which form the speaker system for theconcert or performance venue.

The laser inclinometer housing can be in wired and/or wirelesscommunication (e.g.; via a three (3) wire cable) with a visual and/oraudible reporting device (e.g.; a computer monitor and/or an liquidcrystal display screen, a printer, either or both) to report the angleof the speaker enclosure, box, or housing relative to the pole, uprightor other structural member to which the speaker housing is mounted asdetected by the inclinometer. As such, the detected and reported anglewill correspond to the angle of the direction of the sound being emittedby the speaker enclosure, box, or housing relative to the pole, uprightor other structural member.

Preferably, a laser inclinometer apparatus will be mounted to a speakerenclosure, box, or housing. Wired communication capabilities will beprovided to the laser inclinometer via an interface to transmit an angleof the speaker housing that has been detected by the inclinometer. Thetransmitted angle can be reported to a means for visually and/or audiblyrendering the angle.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary system of speaker housing each including alaser and an inclinometer, where both the laser and the inclinometerindicate the direction of sound output by the speaker housing. Theoutput of each inclinometer can be output at different kinds ofrenderers at the choice of an audio engineer.

Various audio stadium systems for concert venues are illustrated inFIGS. 3-4 and described below. While each audio system is for a stadiumhaving stadium seating, those of ordinary skill in the relevant artswill recognize the advantageous use of a laser inclinometer inconjunction with a speaker housing, where multiple such speaker housingsproject sound to respective locations within a planar seating area. Inany event, the planar area and the stadium are both intended to stage anevent. The event is intended to be attended by an audience. Thus, thestadium is a performance or concert venue for the audio system.

Each audio system includes a plurality of speaker enclosure, box, orhousings. Each speaker enclosure, box, or housing is mounted on andstationary relative to a pole, upright or other structural member. Eachsuch speaker enclosure, box, or housing has a laser inclinometer housingmounted stationary relative thereto. Each such speaker enclosure, box,or housing has an adjustable position upon its pole, upright or otherstructural member as to the direction of sound emitted there fromrelative to the performance venue. The laser inclinometer emits therefrom one or more laser beams of one or more colors and/or patterns. Eachsuch color and/or pattern serve to visually indicate to an audioengineer and/or audio system implementer the direction and/or othersound attribute of the emitted from the speaker enclosure, box, orhousing.

The inclinometer, via output to the interface, provides a signalcarrying information about the position of the speaker enclosure, box,or housing relative to its pole, upright or other structural member.This information can be visually and/or audible rendered for the benefitof an audio engineer. Seeing the visual and/or audible report of the oneor more angles of the speaker housing relative to the performance venue(e.g.; relative to the horizon and/or the vertical) will enable theaudio engineer, either live or robotic, to make adjustments to theposition, and thus the direction of the sound, for each speakerenclosure, box, or housing. One or more of the inclinometer reports canbe simultaneously and/or serially communicated to the audio engineer.Using the reports, the audio engineer can make sound directionadjustments of a fine granularity to each of one or more speakerhousings. Any such adjustment can be made manually and/or with a motorremotely operated by the audio engineer.

In still another implementation, the inclinometer will preferably bemounted and calibrated to ensure that its output characterizes a generaldirection of sound produced by a corresponding sound producing device.Thus, the electrical output of the inclinometer can be readilyinterpreted to convey or otherwise characterize the general direction ofsound produced by the sound producing device. Alternatively, a deductioncan be made from the output of the inclinometer as to the generaldirection of sound produced by the sound producing device. For instance,the electrical output of the inclinometer may characterize of positionof a speaker housing relative to a structural member upon which thespeaker housing is mounted. Nevertheless, a calibration of theinclinometer relative to the speaker housing and its structural memberwill enable a deduction from the output of the inclinometer as to thegeneral direction of sound produced by the sound producing device. Asimilar calibration can be done for the laser relative to its mountingin the speaker housing such that the direction of its laser beam willcharacterize the general direction of sound produced by the soundproducing device.

Either separately or together, the audio engineer, either live orrobotic, can use the following information to effect a desirableposition of each speaker enclosure, box, or housing relative to a pole,upright or other structural member upon which it is mounted so as toappropriately steer the direction of the sound being emitted from thespeaker enclosure, box, or housing:

(i) the direction of the laser beam emitted from the laser inclinometeras visually observed by the audio engineer;

(ii) the spot within the concert venue that is illuminated by theterminus of the laser beam within the concert venue as visually observedby the audio engineer, where the laser beam is emitted from the laserinclinometer mounted within the speaker enclosure, box, or housing;

(iii) a report rendered, audibly and/or visually, to the audio engineer,where report contains information received via an interface to the laserinclinometer, where the interface transmits to the report renderer anangle in one or more axes of the speaker housing that has been detectedby the inclinometer, and where the report renderer can be a printer, avideo monitor, a sound speaker, or a combination thereof

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. A stadium comprising: an area for stadium seating; one or morestructural members each having mounted thereon a speaker housingadjustable in position relative to the structural member, each speakerhousing including: a speaker; one or more lasers mounted on the speakerhousing to each emit a laser beam and collectively define the generalarea to which sound emitted from the speaker housing is being directedinto the area for stadium seating; means for detecting the position ofthe speaker housing relative to the structural member; means foroutputting information characterizing the position; means, remotelyoperated, for adjusting the position of the speaker housing in aplurality of axes relative to the structural member upon which thespeaker housing is mounted; means for reporting an audible diagnosticreport indicating a direction of the sound emitted from the speakerhousing relative to one or more axes; and a renderer for the informationcharacterizing the position.
 2. The stadium as defined in claim 1,wherein the renderer is selected from the group consisting of a printer,a video monitor, a television, a speaker, and combinations thereof . 3.The stadium as defined in claim 1, wherein each said speaker housingfurther comprises one or more devices each operable to determine thedistance between the speaker housing and the area for stadium seating.4. A method to adjust sound within an area for stadium seating in astadium, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of orientationreports each containing information characterizing the position of aspeaker housing adjustably mounted upon a structural member in thestadium, wherein the speaker housing includes: a speaker; and aplurality of lasers mounted on the speaker housing to each emit a laserbeam and collectively define the general area to which sound emittedfrom the speaker housing is being directed into the area for stadiumseating; an inclinometer, mounted on the speaker housing, to: detect aposition of the speaker housing relative to one or more axes; and outputthe information characterizing the position of the speaker housing;receiving a plurality of location reports each respectivelycorresponding to a location within the stadium that is illuminated bythe terminus of the laser beam from the laser within a respective saidspeaker housing; associating each said location report with acorresponding said orientation report; and using one or more saidassociations to make one or more adjustments, wherein each saidadjustment changes the position of one said speaker housing relative toa corresponding said structural member in the stadium on which thespeaking housing is mounted.
 5. The method as defined in claim 4,wherein each said adjustment is made by a remotely operated control toadjust the position of one said speaker housing relative to thestructural member upon which the speaker housing is mounted.
 6. Themethod as defined in claim 4, wherein each said adjustment is made in upto three (3) different axes.
 7. The method as defined in claim 4,wherein receiving the plurality of orientation reports comprises one ormore renderers each rendering one said orientation report, wherein eachsaid renderer is selected from the group consisting of a printer, avideo monitor, a television, a speaker, and combinations thereof
 8. Themethod as defined in claim 4, wherein the inclinometer further comprisesan audible diagnostic reporter for emitting an audible report indicatinga direction of the sound emitted from the speaker housing relative toone or more axes.
 9. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein each saidspeaker housing further comprises one or more devices each operable todetermine the distance between the speaker housing and the area forstadium seating.
 10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein each saidreceived location report further includes a distance to the locationwithin the stadium that is illuminated by the terminus of the laser beamfrom the laser within a respective said speaker housing.
 11. A speakerhousing comprising: a speaker; a plurality of lasers mounted in thespeaker housing each emitting a laser beam to visually collectivelydefine a general area into which sound emitted from the speaker housingis being directed; a device operable to detect a position of the speakerhousing relative to one or more axes; and a device operable toelectronically output information characterizing the position.
 12. Thespeaker housing as defined in claim 11, wherein each said laser beammakes an emission selected from the group consisting of: one or morecolors each indicating a direction of the sound emitted from the speakerhousing relative to one or more axes; and one or more patterns of lighteach indicating a direction of the sound emitted from the speakerhousing relative to one or more axes.
 13. The speaker housing as definedin claim 11, further comprising a device operable to adjust a positionof the direction of the sound emitted from the speaker housing relativeto a plurality of axes.
 14. The speaker housing as defined in claim 11,further comprising a device operable to render a report indicating adirection of the sound emitted from the speaker housing relative to oneor more axes.
 15. The speaker housing as defined in claim 14, whereinthe device operable to render the report is selected from the groupconsisting of a printer, a video monitor, a television, a speaker, andcombinations thereof
 16. The speaker housing as defined in claim 11,further comprising one or more devices each operable to determine adistance between the speaker housing and an area for audience seating.17. The speaker housing as defined in claim 16, further comprising adevice operable to render a report indicating each said distance betweenthe speaker housing and the area for audience seating.
 18. The speakerhousing as defined in claim 11, further comprising: a device operable toadjust a position of the direction of the sound emitted from the speakerhousing relative to a plurality of axes; a device operable to determinea distance between the speaker housing and a hearing destination; and adevice operable to render a report indicating: the direction of thesound emitted from the speaker housing relative to one or more axes; andthe distance between the speaker housing and the hearing destination.19. The speaker housing as defined in claim 18, wherein each said deviceoperable to render the report is selected from the group consisting of aprinter, a video monitor, a television, a speaker, and combinationsthereof.